Global Payroll Manager

Kaplan International; Bogotá; Presencial; COP 240.000.000 - 360.000.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Kaplan International seeks a senior leader to run Global Payroll Operations from Bogotá, coordinating end-to-end payroll across multiple countries and jurisdictions. The role ensures timely monthly processing, accurate tax and deduction handling, and strict governance of payroll records and data security.

You will drive transformation, transition in-house for select regions, optimize vendor relationships, and partner with HR and Finance to ensure compliant, auditable payroll reporting and

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.
• Significant payroll experience in a multinational environment.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple countries, legal entities and frequencies.
• Experience with outsourced and in-house payroll models.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, taxation, employment legislation and statutory requirements.
• Experience leading payroll transformation, migration or implementation projects.
• Advanced Excel and payroll reporting capability.
• Experience preparing and validating payroll reports, reconciliations and data for Finance, audit and compliance.

Responsabilidades

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing across multiple countries and jurisdictions.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of monthly and other local payroll cycles.
• Manage payroll activities including hires, terminations, benefit deductions, and tax requirements, ensuring compliance.
• Ensure payroll changes are uploaded and approved before cut-off deadlines.
• Oversee reconciliations and reports, ensuring outputs align with funding and payments.
• Maintain robust payroll controls and governance across systems and providers.
• Lead payroll transformation initiatives and improve processes, automation and documentation.
• Partner with HR/Finance to support funding, reporting and reconciliation.

Conocimientos

Leadership

Analytical skills

Multitasking

Communication

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business

Herramientas

HiBob

ADP Celergo

Excel

Descripción del empleo

Key Responsibilities

Global Payroll Operations

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing across multiple countries and jurisdictions.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of monthly, semi-monthly and other local payroll cycles.
• Manage payroll activities including hires, terminations, compensation changes, variable pay, statutory and company sick pay, family-friendly payments and leave, benefits deductions, pension contributions, tax requirements and other payroll-related adjustments, ensuring compliance with local legislation, company policies and payroll practices in each jurisdiction.
• Ensure all employee payroll changes are accurately uploaded and approved in Celergo before payroll cut-off deadline.
• Review payroll calculations, reconciliations and reports prior to payroll approval, ensuring all payroll outputs are fully reconciled to funding requirements and payments released from company bank accounts, with discrepancies identified and resolved before payroll sign-off.
• Ensure robust reconciliation processes are maintained between payroll provider outputs, payroll journals, funding requests and employee payments to ensure accuracy, completeness and financial control.
• Oversee complex manual calculations and off‑cycle payroll payments where required.
• Ensure payroll records are accurate, secure and audit‑ready.
• Partner with Finance to support payroll funding, reporting and reconciliation activities.

Payroll Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development of a standalone global payroll operating model.
• Manage the transition of UK and North America payroll operations in-house.
• Review outsourced payroll arrangements and identify opportunities for future migration and standardisation.
• Drive process improvements, automation and efficiency initiatives across payroll operations.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, controls and documentation.
• Champion change and support stakeholders through payroll transformation initiatives.

Payroll Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with local employment legislation, tax regulations and statutory requirements across all operating countries.
• Maintain robust payroll controls and governance processes.
• Monitor legislative changes and implement required updates.
• Support internal and external payroll audits.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy and security requirements.

Payroll Systems & Vendor Management

• Act as the payroll lead for HiBob, ADP Celergo and other payroll platforms.
• Manage relationships with payroll vendors and outsourced service providers.
• Support payroll system implementations, integrations, testing and optimisation.
• Ensure payroll and HR data integrity across systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve system functionality and automation.
• Ensure seamless integration between payroll, HR and finance systems, including HiBob, ADP Celergo and other relevant platforms, to support accurate and timely payroll and financial reporting.
• Maintain payroll-related system configuration, coding structures and data mappings, ensuring organisational changes, compensation updates and employee data changes are accurately reflected across systems and downstream finance processes.
• Partner with HR and Finance teams to minimise manual adjustments by ensuring payroll source data is accurate, up to date and correctly integrated into finance reporting and payroll accounting processes.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, coach and develop a small payroll team within the Global HR Services function.
• Build strong relationships with HR, Finance, and business stakeholders globally.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on payroll processes, compliance and best practices.
• Ensure payroll queries and escalations are resolved effectively and professionally.
• Collaborate effectively across multiple countries, cultures and time zones.

Experience & Qualifications

• Essential Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources or a related field.
• Significant payroll experience within a multinational environment.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple countries, legal entities and payroll frequencies.
• Experience working with both outsourced and in-house payroll models.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, taxation, employment legislation and statutory requirements.
• Experience leading payroll transformation, migration or implementation projects.
• Strong analytical, reconciliation and problem‑solving skills.
• Advanced Excel and payroll reporting capability.
• Experience preparing and validating payroll reports, payroll reconciliations, payroll journals and payroll data for Finance, audit and compliance purposes.
• Experience managing statutory reporting requirements, year‑end payroll activities and regulatory submissions across one or more jurisdictions.
• Experience analysing payroll data, identifying trends, resolving discrepancies and providing insights to support business decision‑making.
• Experience developing payroll controls, governance frameworks, process documentation and operational reporting metrics.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and service delivery against agreed SLAs and performance standards.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced, evolving and transformational environment.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing a small team.
• Excellent English, written and spoken.
• Experience managing payroll‑to‑finance interfaces, payroll reconciliations and system integrations to ensure accurate financial posting, reporting and control.

Preferred Experience

• Preferred Experience with HiBob and ADP Celergo.
• Experience supporting payroll operations across Europe, the UK & Ireland, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
• Experience working within a shared services or global HR services environment.
• Professional payroll qualification.

Additional Information

Additional Information This job description outlines the primary responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. As the organisation continues to evolve and establish its standalone operating model, responsibilities may be reviewed and amended to meet changing business requirements. The role holder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the level and scope of the position.

Kaplan International, the international division of Kaplan Inc., encompasses a range of businesses: a dynamic English-language training provider with 40-plus schools across the globe, a range of Pathways programmes which help international students progress onto degree programs at top-ranked university partners in the U.K., U.S., and Australia, a leading higher education institution in Singapore where more than 18,000 domestic and international students study towards diplomas and degrees and a professional and vocational training operation in Australia and Asia Pacific.

Location Bogotá, COL

Employee Type Employee

Job Functional Area Payroll

Kaplan lnternational is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

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